Dallas Cowboys Blog

Rob Ryan: Terence Newman could play press coverage if ‘his life was on the line’

IRVING — Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman has been criticized for the large amount of cushion he’s been giving opposing receivers this season.

Lining up six-to-eight yards off his receiver has become normal for the 33-year-old, former first round pick of the Cowboys.

However, when asked about the starting defensive back rarely playing press coverage, Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said Newman could execute it, if needed.

“A lot of times it’s a team game,” Ryan said. “Sometimes we’re playing off or a certain coverage. If they’re man, he can go down there and press him. Sometimes he can go down there and press them and we’ll play [cover] 2 behind him. There’s a lot of different things with us. I know if he had to cover somebody and his life was on the line and it was a man coverage thing, I’m sure Terence would be down there pressing.”

Does Ryan want him pressing more?

“No,” Ryan responded. “It just depends. Each week is different. Sometimes he’ll be down there pressing the whole game, sometimes he won’t. It’s what we’re trying to get done in our coverage.”